associationism

American  

[uh-soh-see-ay-shuh-niz-uhm, -shee-ay-] / əˌsoʊ siˈeɪ ʃəˌnɪz əm, -ʃiˈeɪ- /

noun

1. Psychology. any of several theories that explain complex psychological phenomena as being built up from the association of simple sensations, stimuli and responses, or other behavioral or mental elements considered as primary.

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associationism British  

/ əˌsəʊsɪˈeɪʃəˌnɪzəm /

noun

1. psychol a theory that all mental activity is based on connections between basic mental events, such as sensations and feelings

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Other Word Forms

• associationist
  adjective
• associationistic
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of associationism

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40; association + -ism

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

associationism

This theory was refuted by the same objection which destroyed aesthetic associationism in general: speech is unity, not multiplicity of images, and multiplicity does not explain, but presupposes the existence of the expression to explain.

From Aesthetic as Science of Expression and General Linguistic by Benedetto Croce

This notion that associationism leads away from the work of art as such is a perceptive comment.

From An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Taste, and of the Origin of our Ideas of Beauty, etc. by James L. Clifford

The whole theory of physiological associationism works evidently with two factors.

From Psychotherapy by Hugo Münsterberg

French sensualism shows itself quite incapable of understanding aesthetic production, and the associationism of David Hume is not more fortunate in this respect.

From Aesthetic as Science of Expression and General Linguistic by Benedetto Croce

The one-sidedness of the physiological sensory theories has been the hidden reason for the one-sidedness of associationism.

From Harvard Psychological Studies, Volume 1 Containing Sixteen Experimental Investigations from the Harvard Psychological Laboratory. by Hugo Münsterberg

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